Plate 17. 
AC^NA ASCENDENS. 
Family Rosacea :-FIowers regular. Petals separate. Stamens in- 
definite situated round or upon the ovary. Receptacle generally 
hollowed. Leaves alternate, stipulate. 
Genus, Ac^na .-—Herbs, often creeping and woody at the base, glabrous 
or hairy, flowering branches erect. Leaves alternate, divided 
into unequal leaflets. Stipules at base of leaves adhering to the 
leaf stalk. Leaflets serrated. Flowers with bracts, in heads, 
at the apex of an elongated stem, usually red, or reddish-green! 
Calyx tube persistent, constricted at base, 3-7-lobed. Petals 
none. Stamens 1-10. Carpels 1-2. Capitulum or head of 
truits with barbed spines resembling arrow heads. Seeds 1 to 
each flower. 
Acaena ascendens, VaM. Plant about 8-12 in. hmh 
fetem long, prostrate, branched. Leafy branches smooth. 
Leaves more or less hairy. Leaflets 4-7 pairs, ovate-oblong, 
obtuse at the tip, rather deeply toothed. Flower stalk leafy 
below, leafless and smooth above. Flower head globose. 
Lalyx lobes hairy on outer side. Stamens usually 4, longer 
than the calyx lobes. Stigmas long, tufted on one side. Fruit 
obconical, shortly hairy, with 4 long glochidia or spines. 
In various situations, preferably where there is plenty of 
moisture— rocks near sea, meadows, banks of streams, etc. 
Abundant. 
Flowers December. 
West Falklands. 
Description of plate :-l, portion of plant; 2, young flower; 3, 
flower with sepals removed ; 4, more mature flower ; 5, section of same ; 
b and 7, stamens; 8, pistil; 9, fruit; 10, tip of spine. All except 1 
D 
